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Revision as of 23:58, 29 October 2006

Fiona Mont became known as Britain's Most Wanted Woman during a major police and media hunt for her in connection with allegations of corporate fraud. The chase lasted for three years and covered a large area of Europe including Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Gibraltar and finally Portugal. She was featured on BBC TV Crimewatch and ITV, and the following newpapers printed various accounts of her possible whereabouts during a three year period, The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Sunday Mirror, The Times, The Observer, The Guardian, The Daily Express and Loaded. The couple were frequently likened to Bonnie and Clyde however Fiona always maintained her innocence and despite assistance from the national uk press her whereabouts were largly unknown throughout the entire period.

Biography

Early life

Mont is the daughter of Neville Mont, who was an Under Sheriff of Sussex, and Joan Mont, a former Leader of East Sussex County Council.

She attended secondary school at St. Mary's Hall, Brighton until she was expelled. Fiona Mont disputes this article and has always maintained she was not expelled.

Fiona also attended school in Canada where she lived with relatives during 1986.

Career

Upon her return from Canada, she acquired a job with the Gemini Business Centre.

Arrest and flight

In September 1999 she was arrested. The officer leading the case was Detective Constable Stephen Skerrett of the Steyning Station of the Sussex Police.

Later, her car was found near Beachy Head (an infamous suicide spot). The Coast Guard mounted a two-day search operation before Mont's mother eventually admitted to receiving a phone call from her daughter. Fiona Mont has always disputed that there was an air sea rescue. It was reported in the press that she had fled the country in a light aircraft piloted by Graham Hesketh from Shoreham Airport. She denies and disputes the allegations against her via a website.

Mont was featured on BBC television Crimewatch in 2000 as wanted for questioning in relation to allegations of three hundred thousand pounds of computer fraud. She always maintained that there never was any fraud. She later appeared the same year in an ITV production similar to Crimewatch titled "Britain's Most Wanted" in which DC Skerrett, also a pilot, flew an aircraft for the reconstruction of events. The following day the tabloids, particularly The Daily Mail adopted the title of the program as reference to Mont.

Eventually, Mont and Hesketh arrived in Spain and found a small caravan in which to reside. Claims were then made in the media that Mont had set up a website to taunt police and that she had sent emails stating 'Catch me if you can'. Fiona Mont now know as Mrs Fiona Hesketh disputes these allegations.

Capture and escape

The couple remained at large in Spain until January 2002. Mont was arrested on the Costa del Sol. She was taken to Madrid to await extradition proceedings. But when the Spanish authorities released her on bail, she vanished again.

Lawsuits

Graham Hesketh made a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission regarding the underhanded behaviour of the Sunday Mirror. Fiona Mont has always disputed that she escaped from Spain and maintains that she was unconditionally released from gaol after four weeks. She also maintained that DC Skerrett was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and discharged from the police force.

References

1. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,4348767-102285,00.html
2. Life On the Run by Fiona Mont
3. Police in TV Appeal to track down The Cat
4. Graham Hesketh complaint against the Sunday Mirror

• How Britain's Most Wanted Woman Met Her Showdown
• Cat faces up to Extradition
• Cat's on the Run Again
• Bungle Sends Most Wanted Woman Free
• Cat's Last Life
• news video archive of Fiona Mont's arrest in spain

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